Kumage history

The history of the Kumage district, located on the islands south of Kyushu, is a fascinating chronicle that began long before the appearance of modern maps. Archaeological findings confirm that people inhabited these lands as early as the Paleolithic era, over 30,000 years ago. In the ancient Japanese chronicles "Nihon Shoki," the region is mentioned as early as the 7th century as the separate province of Tane. Thanks to its strategic location, these islands served for centuries as a maritime gateway, facilitating lively trade and cultural exchange between the main part of Japan, the Ryukyu Kingdom, and China.

For centuries, beginning with the Kamakura period, the region was ruled by the influential Tanegashima clan. Local rulers skillfully utilized geographical advantages, developing navigation and maintaining a certain degree of autonomy. However, the most striking episode in the region's annals occurred in 1543, when a Portuguese ship docked at the island's shores. It was here that the Japanese first saw European arquebuses, which forever changed the course of the entire country's military history, and the name "Tanegashima" became synonymous with firearms.

Following this fateful meeting, local blacksmiths displayed incredible ingenuity, quickly mastering the production of guns, which became the region's main export. But Kumage was famous for more than just weaponry: thanks to active maritime contacts, a unique culture was formed here, absorbing traditions from the mainland and the island south. This was reflected in the dialect and gastronomy—for instance, these lands became one of the first places in Japan to cultivate sweet potatoes. The modern administrative boundaries of the district were established in the Meiji era, uniting this rich historical heritage into a single entity.

• 7th Century — Establishment of Tane Province, mentioned in the ancient Japanese chronicles "Nihon Shoki" as an independent administrative unit uniting the islands of the region.

• 824 — Tane Province was abolished and officially annexed to Osumi Province, becoming part of a larger administrative system.

• 1185 — With the establishment of the Kamakura Shogunate, de facto power over the islands passed to samurai clans, among whom the Tanegashima clan soon rose to prominence, ruling these lands for centuries.

• 1543 — The landmark arrival of a Portuguese ship at the shores of Tanegashima, marking the introduction of firearms to Japan, which forever changed the country's military history.

• 1609 — The region was firmly established within the sphere of influence of the powerful Satsuma Domain, becoming an important strategic link in trade and relations with Ryukyu.

• 1698 — The 19th head of the Tanegashima clan, Hisamoto, ordered the planting of the first sweet potato tubers brought from Ryukyu. This occurred earlier than the famous cultivation of this crop on Kyushu, making the islands pioneers in growing sweet potatoes.

• 1871 — Following the Meiji Restoration and the abolition of the han system, the territories became part of the modern Kagoshima Prefecture.

• 1896 — Administrative reform led to the official formation of Kumage District (Kumage-gun) within boundaries close to the modern ones.

• 1969 — The Space Center was founded on Tanegashima Island, becoming Japan's largest spaceport and a symbol of the region's scientific and technical progress.

• 1993 — The ancient cedar forests of Yakushima Island, part of the district, were included in the UNESCO World Natural Heritage list.

• 2007 — The merger of the towns of Kamiyaku and Yaku took place, resulting in the formation of the modern town of Yakushima, uniting the administration of this unique natural island.

Major Stages of Regional Development

The development of the Kumage district is a story of transforming isolated islands into a centre for advanced technology and global eco-tourism. The region's economy has journeyed from the barter of timber to hosting spacecraft and international travellers.

• Systematisation of Forestry (17th Century)
  The beginning of large-scale harvesting of ancient cedar (Yakusugi) on Yakushima under the control of the Satsuma clan. Timber became the region's main "currency," used for tax payments and construction, which defined the economic profile of this part of the district for centuries.

• Agrarian Specialisation (18th–19th Centuries)
  Mass introduction of sugar cane and sweet potato crops, especially on the flat island of Tanegashima. This turned the region into an important supplier of sugar and food, forming a sustainable agricultural system that remains significant today.

• Creation of the Transport Framework (Mid-20th Century)
  The construction of ring roads encircling the islands and the modernisation of seaports allowed scattered coastal settlements to be linked into a single system. This boosted internal trade and simplified logistics.

• Dawn of the Aviation Era (1963)
  The opening of the airport on Yakushima was a breakthrough in overcoming island isolation. Regular flights not only accelerated cargo delivery but also made the region accessible to residents of mainland Japan, laying the foundation for the tourism industry.

• Technological Industrialisation (1969)
  The founding of the Space Center on Tanegashima attracted government investment and highly qualified specialists to the region. The appearance of the spaceport stimulated the renewal of energy grids and roads, adding the features of a science hub to the island's agrarian character.

• Reorientation towards Eco-tourism (1993)
  The inclusion of Yakushima's forests in the UNESCO World Heritage list radically changed the vector of development. The economy shifted from resource extraction to conservation: a boom began in the construction of hotels, tourist centres, and the development of the service sector oriented towards guests from around the world.

Architectural Appearance and Urban Planning

The architecture of the Kumage district, comprising the islands of Tanegashima and Yakushima, developed according to a unique scenario distinct from mainland metropolises. Here, you will not find Gothic cathedrals or Baroque palaces. The chief "urban planner" in this region has always been nature: frequent typhoons, a humid climate, and rugged terrain dictated their harsh conditions. The evolution of local architecture is a journey from protecting homes against the elements to integrating high technology into the pristine landscape.

Traditional Vernacular Architecture (Edo — Meiji Period)

The historical buildings of the islands belong to the vernacular (folk) architecture style. In this era, the priority was protection against strong winds and sea spray.

• Style: Traditional Japanese (rural adaptation).
• Features: Use of local timber (cedar and camphor tree). A characteristic feature is the erection of high stone walls known as ishigaki around houses and hedges for wind protection. Roofs were often made low and streamlined to minimise wind resistance.
• Landmark Objects: Preserved ancient homesteads in the villages of Yakushima and historical Shinto shrines, such as the Urata Shrine in the north of Tanegashima.

Functional Modernism (Showa Period, 1950–1980s)

Post-war reconstruction and infrastructure development brought reinforced concrete to the islands. The need for buildings capable of withstanding any storm led to the dominance of a utilitarian style.

• Style: Brutalism and Functionalism.
• Features: Massive concrete structures for public buildings, schools, and port terminals. Aesthetics took a back seat to durability and safety. Buildings from this period form the administrative appearance of the cities of Nishinoomote and Miyanoura.
• Landmark Objects: The old municipal building (now undergoing reconstruction) and port facilities.

Post-modernism and Symbolism (Late 20th Century)

With the development of tourism in the 1980s and 90s, architects began seeking ways to express the region's unique identity through the form of buildings.

• Style: Post-modernism.
• Features: Symbolic buildings where the form directly cites the history of the place. Use of modern materials to create striking visual images.
• Landmark Objects: The "Teppokan" Museum (Firearms Development Center) on Tanegashima. The building is styled like an old Portuguese ship, recalling the arrival of Europeans in 1543.

High-tech and Eco-architecture (Modernity)

Today, the region is characterised by a contrast between space technologies and ecological consciousness.

• Style: Industrial High-tech and Organic Architecture.
• Features: On Tanegashima, engineering structures of the space industry dominate—launch complexes and assembly halls. On Yakushima, architecture that is maximally integrated into the natural environment is developing, using wood, glass, and natural light.
• Landmark Objects:
  • Tanegashima Space Center (JAXA): A complex of launch pads and hangars, often called "the most beautiful spaceport in the world" due to its location against a backdrop of ocean and cliffs.
  • Yakushima Environmental Culture Village Center: Designed by the renowned architect Yoshinobu Ashihara, this complex blends harmoniously with the surrounding landscape at the foot of the mountains.

Historical Figures and Rulers

• Tanegashima Tokitaka (1528–1579)
  Daimyo, 14th Head of the Tanegashima Clan
  A key figure in Japanese history. As the young ruler of the island, it was he who purchased two arquebuses from the Portuguese in 1543, realising the potential of this weapon. His decision to copy and begin the production of guns forever changed warfare tactics in the country and marked the beginning of the era of firearms in Japan.

• Yaita Kinbei (16th Century)
  Legendary Blacksmith
  The master entrusted by Lord Tokitaka with the complex task of creating a replica of the Portuguese gun. Kinbei successfully reproduced the mechanism, including the screw bolt technology previously unknown to the Japanese. He is considered the founding father of Japanese gunsmithing.

Travellers and Missionaries

• Francisco Zeimoto (16th Century)
  Portuguese Trader and Explorer
  One of the first Europeans to set foot on Japanese soil. He arrived on a Chinese junk at the shores of Tanegashima and demonstrated the operation of a musket to the locals, which became the starting point in Japanese-European relations.

• Ganjin (688–763)
  Chinese Monk of the Tang Dynasty
  A famous preacher of Buddhism who spent over 10 years and made five unsuccessful attempts to reach Japan, losing his eyesight in the process. During one of his attempts, his ship was swept by a storm onto Yakushima Island, where he spent some time before finally reaching the capital, Nara.

• Giovanni Battista Sidotti (1668–1714)
  Italian Jesuit Priest
  The last missionary to enter Japan during the era of strict isolation (Sakoku). In 1708, he landed on Yakushima disguised as a samurai but was quickly discovered by locals. Conversations with him formed the basis of the important work "Seiyo Kibun," which expanded Japanese knowledge of the West.

Cultural Figures

• Hayao Miyazaki (born 1941)
  Director-Animator, Founder of Studio Ghibli
  Although Miyazaki was not born here, his connection to the region is unbreakable. In the 1990s, he spent much time in the ancient forests of Yakushima making sketches. It was the mossy forests of the Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine that became the prototype for the magical forest in the cult anime "Princess Mononoke," making the island a place of pilgrimage for tourists from all over the world.